Hall Of Fame Coach, 5-Time NBA Champion Don Nelson Dies At 86

Don Nelson, a five-time NBA champion as a player with the Boston Celtics and one of the winningest coaches in league history, has died at the age of 86.

Nelson’s family announced his death on Sunday. He won five NBA championships with Boston between 1966 and 1976, with the Celtics later retiring his No. 19 jersey.

As a coach, Nelson recorded 1,335 wins and 1,063 losses during stints with the Milwaukee Bucks, Golden State Warriors, New York Knicks and Dallas Mavericks between 1976 and 2010. His 1,335 victories stood as an NBA record until Gregg Popovich surpassed him in 2022.

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver described Nelson as a revolutionary figure whose fearlessness and creativity left a lasting impact on basketball. Nelson was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2012.

Although he never reached the NBA Finals as a head coach, Nelson was widely regarded as one of the league’s most innovative coaches, particularly for his unconventional lineups and offensive strategies.

The Golden State Warriors, where Nelson coached for 11 seasons, paid tribute to him as one of the most influential coaches in NBA history. Current Warriors coach Steve Kerr also described Nelson as a visionary whose ideas continue to influence the modern game.

The Boston Celtics, Milwaukee Bucks and Dallas Mavericks also honoured Nelson, highlighting his contributions as a player, coach and innovator.